Megavitamin Therapy for Different Cases
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Megavitamin Therapy for Different Cases A. Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D.1 ASCORBIC ACID CURE OF ONE CASE OF TOXIC PSYCHOSIS Recently when I was sorting out my reprints removed as treatment for cancer and then on ascorbic acid I ran across a complete file on received follow-up radiation. The skin over her my first psychotic patient given large doses of breast ulcerated. About five weeks before ascorbic acid alone. I have referred to this case admission she was given testosterone until 10 elsewhere, but have not given any clinical detail. days before. Since this may well be the first case ever treated Because of her severe agitation, depression, in this way, I think it may be useful to report the and paranoid delusions, ECT, the main details. treatment of that day, was indicated. Mrs. V. H., age 47, was referred to the By December 11, 1952, I had persuaded her General Hospital, Munroe Wing, Regina, doctor to allow me to treat her with megadoses because she was delusional, very depressed, and of ascorbic acid, my reasoning being that she threatened to kill herself. She was admitted was probably toxic from her cancer, radiation, December 9, 1952. and the ulceration. He agreed to hold off ECT She was large, obese, masculine in for a few days. appearance with a lot of hair on her face. Her She was started on 1 g of ascorbic acid each complexion was pale and muddy. She suffered hour while awake. If sleeping she was not from perceptual changes, hearing the voice of awakened, but when she did awaken was give her priest, she was confused, delusional, with no 1 g for each hour she had slept. insight, and was very agitated, restless, and depressed with marked mood swings. Progress Under Treatment About four years before her jealousy of her Between her admission December 9 and the husband suddenly became intense and she first administration of ascorbic acid there was accused him of having an affair with his no change in her psychosis. Ascorbic acid was secretary. She then threatened to kill herself. started 2:30 p.m., December 11, 1952 One year before she was admitted she had (Thursday). The following information is taken her right breast from the nursing notes: 1 #3 2727 Quadra St., Victoria, B.C. V8T 4E5. 169 ORTHOMOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY, VOLUME 5, NUMBER 3, 1976, Pp. 169-182 (1) December 12, 1952: ascorbic acid December 11. This day she sang A.M. —Patient slept eight hours. She ate a hymns and was fearful she would be harmed. large breakfast, stated she felt better, but On December 12 she was much more at ease, complained of feeling weak and of pain and mixed with other patients, and played cards burning over her ulcerated breast area. She well. On December 15 she was cheerful, no carried her Bible with her, praying frequently. longer expressed delusional ideas, and reported The pain in her breast, she stated, was there she was much better. On December 17 she because someone was praying for her to be remained well. She described how terrified she punished. had been prior to admission. People seemed to P.M. —The patient was more relaxed. She have changed and some appeared to be turkeys was friendly and affectionate with the nurses, or dodos with their intestines hanging out. She but required frequent reassurance that she would had felt everyone was going to be killed, but recover. She could not concentrate on anything. now she felt it was strange she could have felt (2) December 13, 1952: the way she did." There was no longer any A.M. —Patient was cheerful but quiet and no indication for ECT and she was discharged. longer sought reassurance. The ulcer had begun When I had first seen this patient I had to heal. Patient participated with the group and considered she had a toxic psychosis, but the enjoyed singing Christmas Carols with the radio. director of the unit to whom Dr. L. reported The ascorbic acid caused frequent bowel concluded she was schizophrenic. I still believe movements. I was correct. I am also convinced that the P.M. —Patient remained cheerful and quiet. massive doses of ascorbic acid promptly (3) December 14, 1952: brought her out of her psychosis and also Patient remained the same. She was seen initiated healing of the ulcerated lesion. This encouraging another patient who was very upset. had not responded to any previous treatment. If She missed her husband and was excited and she had not responded she would have been happy to see him. She did not carry her Bible given a series of ECT. Tranquilizers were then with her this day. not available. Improvement was noted within (4) December 15, 1952: 24 hours. She remained mentally well. She told the One could make the improbable hypothesis nurses, "I like Dr. L. better now and I really that she had made a placebo response. But don't mind being here as I'll be getting better." patients who have a toxic psychosis are not Later that day she felt well enough to go home. good candidates for placebo response. No Ascorbic acid was discontinued this day. attempt was made to convince her the vitamin (5) December 17, 1952: would help since none of the staff had any The patient stated she felt really good. For the reason for believing it would work, nor was she first time her breast ulcer was clean and healing my patient at any time, nor has it been found with no more purulent discharge. that faith can produce such a rapid response to (6) December 20, 1952: a serious infected radiation-induced ulcer. The patient was discharged December 20 I am sorry I did not keep her on ascorbic mentally normal. She remained normal until she acid much longer in view of the recent work by died six months later from her cancer. L. Pauling showing that megadoses of this Her psychiatrist recorded the following notes: vitamin had been helpful for some patients "December 15, 1952—Patient started on dying from cancer. 170 MEGAVITAMIN THERAPY FOR DIFFERENT CASES MEGAVITAMIN TREATMENT FOR PSYCHIATRIC CHANGES INDUCED BY MERCURY POISONING Minamata disease, the result of chronic his nervousness he found himself more and mercury poisoning, has become a serious more depressed, and he began to experience problem in a few areas of Canada populated abnormal sexual impulses which led to chiefly by native people. Mercury dumped into antisocial behavior. About 17 days before he the water system contaminated fish which when was seen he had been transferred to another line ingested causes an increase in mercury levels. of work and was no longer exposed to mercury. The disease is named after a Japanese town By the time he saw me he was somewhat better. where it was first clearly recognized and A few months before he was seen he had a described. transient rash on his legs lasting one week Chronic exposure to mercury has long been which was itchy, and he noted he was very known to produce changes in the central nervous thirsty and his gums began to bleed when he system. In the past the main exposure has been brushed them. to inorganic mercury used in industry, but more His mental state was somewhat paranoid. He recently organic mercury has become more felt people were watching him continually, was important. There are differences in the way the convinced that his supervisor was talking about body deals with organic and inorganic mercury. him and was intentionally trying to harm him. The main difference is that organic mercury There was blocking, he could not remember as compounds penetrate more readily into the well and could not concentrate. He could read, brain, achieve higher CNS levels, and are but could not comprehend what he read. On excreted more slowly. occasion he suffered from insomnia. Apparently there is no effective treatment for In Cecil's Textbook of Medicine, Ninth Minamata disease. Perhaps one might develop. Edition, the symptoms of mercury intoxication Since 1969 I have been confronted with the included: necessity to treat three men who had suffered (1) Stomatitis with salivation, a metallic taste, inorganic mercury poisoning from prolonged ex- and a red-brown discoloration and gingivitis. posure to metallic mercury. One recovered, and (2) Increased irritability, increased shyness, the other two were much improved and on the insomnia, headache, vertigo, depression, and way to full recovery when last seen. This rarely hallucinations. suggests that a similar approach might be (3) Tremor of muscles of the face and limbs. therapeutic for some sufferers from Minamata (4) Loss of appetite and diarrhea. disease, especially if started early. (5) Dermatitis, erythematous in form, and desquamation. The Three Cases The clinical picture, plus his exposure to mercury vapor, suggested he was poisoned by Case No. 1, Born in 1945, Male: mercury. A blood specimen was sent to the When first seen early in 1969 the patient laboratory. His mercury level was very high. complained of excessive nervousness for the Since the laboratory had hitherto run very few previous three months. Just before this happened mercury assays, it was not certain of the exact he had come into much closer contact with amount. mercury in his laboratory where he worked as a My final diagnosis was that he suffered from chemist. No provision had been made for proper an acute schizophrenic syndrome caused by ventilation of the laboratory, and he did not do mercury intoxication. As it was the preparations in a fume cupboard. With 171 ORTHOMOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY, VOLUME 5, NUMBER 3, 1976, Pp.